A polymorphism in the paternally expressed gene 3 (PEG3)
was investigated for its association with reproductive tract traits in swine. A
total of 260 Yorkshire, Large White, and crossbred females were genotyped at
the PEG3 locus. All females were mated to terminal sires, and at
approximately 75 days of gestation, harvested. Data collected from gravid
reproductive tracts included ovulation rate, horn length, number of fetuses,
fetal weight, uterine weight, number of mummies, fetal survival, and fetal
space. Data were analyzed using a model that included the effects of PEG3,
breed, parity, horn (in some cases), and significant two-way interactions.
Significant (P £
0.1) associations were found between PEG3 genotype and fetal survival, uterine weight,
number of fetuses per horn, fetal weight per horn, and average fetal weight per
horn. This abstract was originally presented at the 7th World Congress
of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production in Montpellier, France on August
19-23, 2002
Keywords: Swine, Genetic Marker, Reproductive Traits